But now council chiefs say the activities centre owes them £15,000 and has forced them out of the building.

Mary said: “I am absolutely devastated. The council haven’t offered us a lease and have told us to vacate the premises before December 31.

“We’re also being billed thousands which date back to 2009 for the water and electrics but we can’t pay it.

“We have people coming from all over Coventry. We started training archery for cadets. It was a unique service to support young people and their families.

The parent volunteers have been disgusted by it all.

“Everyone has put a lot of hard work into this place. The youngsters loved it here and now there is nothing left for them to do.

We are based in a disadvantaged area and the community needs this centre. It’s such a shame to lose it.”

Mary was nominated for a Good Citizen Award last year for her contribution in keeping youngsters off the streets. She has also fostered hundreds of children while running the centre for young people.

The management committee and several volunteers have been helping to remove equipment from the centre including the huge climbing frames, slopes and zip wire.

They are now desperate for donations in the hope they can relocate some activities to another site.

Mary said: “We’ve been clearing everything out. We’ll be charged if we leave anything behind. We are looking for another premises to keep the archery going as it was very popular after the Olympics. We need all the help we can get.”

A spokesman for Coventry City Council said “it was a difficult but necessary decision” to close down the adventure centre and added: “The adventure centre is in debt to the council and we have been in talks with them for the past couple of years to try and resolve issues.”

Anyone who wishes to make a donation can log on to www.localgiving.com/charity/adventurecentrewyken/project/adventure-centre-wyken-ltd.